How to make a semi automatic rubber band gun

Written by marshal m. rosenthal

Share

Tweet

Share

Email

A rubber band gun can fire a single “projectile” quickly, but requires more time to reload than a conventional weapon. You can make a semi-automatic rubber band gun that will be able to reload and fire a second shot many time more quickly than that of a conventional rubber band gun. You will need a few household items and about 20 minutes to complete the project. The semi-automatic rubber band gun will make you the quickest “triggerman” in the rubber-band world.

Skill level:

Moderate

Other People Are Reading

Things you need

12 inch long wooden ruler

Wooden pencils

1/2 inch wide rubber bands

2-by-4 inch toy plastic building brick

Cellophane tape

Portable drill

Show MoreHide

Instructions

1

Put the ruler down horizontally on a table with the 1 inch number at the left side. Place a pencil vertically with the point facing down onto the ruler at the 11-inch mark. Position the pencil so that 1/2 inch of it overlaps the ruler at the top.

2

Wrap a rubber band around the ruler and the pencil in a “X” crisscross to secure the two together.

3

Repeat this procedure with another pencil placed at the 9-inch mark on the ruler, but place the top of the pencil even with the top edge of the ruler.

4

Place the plastic building brick (Lego) vertically between the two pencils on the ruler. Wrap a rubber band around the brick and the ruler and the two pencils to secure them all together. Repeat this procedure with another rubber band.

5

Push the two points of the pencils together. Wrap a rubber band around the two pencils at the point where they meet to secure them together.

6

Repeat the procedure of attaching a pencil to the ruler in the same way as was done with the first pencil, only this time at the 5-inch mark.

7

Turn the ruler over. Use the portable drill to make a hole through the ruler at the 4-inch mark. Put a rubber band through the hole.

8

Place a pencil horizontally on the back of the ruler. Put the pencil through the rubber band. Wrap a rubber band around the ruler and the pencil near the front of the pencil. Wrap another rubber band around the ruler and the pencil near the back of the pencil. Turn the ruler over.

9

Pull up on the rubber band that is in the hole. Wrap the rubber band around the end of the pencil at the 5 inch mark. Angle the pencil and the rubber band to form a point. Secure the rubber band to the pencil with cellophane tape.

10

Pick up the ruler by the two pencils that are secured together to form the handle of your semi-automatic rubber band gun.

11

Loop a rubber band around the top of the pencil that is farthest from you. Stretch the rubber band and put its end over the edge of the ruler that is now the barrel of your semi-automatic rubber band gun.

12

Loop another rubber band in the same manner as the first, only this time on the top of the pencil that is behind the one you just used.

13

Aim your semi-automatic rubber band gun at an appropriate target, for example, a tree or rock in your backyard. Pull on the pencil that is now the trigger and is in front of the two pencil handle to fire off the first rubber band.

14

Move the loop of the second rubber band over the top of the first pencil once the rubber band has been fired. Pull the “trigger” again to fire off the second rubber band. Reload the two rubber bands and continue firing at will.

Tips and warnings

A thinner rubber band will shoot farther than a thick one but is more prone to snapping apart when stretched.

Never aim any rubber band gun at anything living because the rubber band can cause damage.